Anyone curious about what goes on inside SUNY Buffalo State’s Art Conservation Department has the opportunity to find out on Thursday, October 10, during this year’s Museums by Moonlight when Art Conservation, along with seven other Buffalo art institutions, opens its doors to Buffalo and Western New York.
“Last year about 200 people showed up. They got to see a little bit of what we do every day—from conserving rare books to doing the intricate work to save an historic painting,” said Patrick Ravines, director of art conservation.
This year provides the first opportunity for the public to see the newly renovated third floor of Rockwell Hall where Art Conservation studios and labs are located.
“Every lab will be open, manned by faculty and graduate students for questions,” said Meredeth Lavelle, program manager for the department.
Presented by Preservation Buffalo Niagara, Museums by Moonlight begins at 5:30 p.m. and runs through 9:30 p.m. and also includes the Burchfield Penney Art Center, the Richardson Olmsted Complex, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the Buffalo History Museum, the Buffalo Museum of Science, the Forest Avenue Resource Center, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin Martin House.
Tours are all self-guided except within the Darwin Martin House. Volunteers will be stationed at the entrance of each location for check-in. Reservations are required. Tickets cost $25 in advance and $35 after October 6 and allow entrance into all the participating institutions. Buffalo State faculty, staff, and students who wish to tour the Art Conservation only can do so for free. The other institutions will require a ticket.
Tickets may be purchased as the Albright-Knox, the Burchfield Penney, the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, the Buffalo Museum of Science, or online at www.buffalotours.org.
A new addition this year is that several participating Elmwood Avenue establishments will offer specials on dinner, drinks, and dessert as part of the ticket purchase.
